Children get creative with 3D printer at Waldinger Library

Although any Valley Stream resident can learn how to make 3D creations at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, no adults have signed up for any of the 3D printing classes, according to Mamie Eng, the director of the library.

“I think the adults want to see what it is,” said Eng. “They’ll come to the demonstrations, but they don’t see themselves as creators.”

The demonstrations draw about 25 Valley Streamers each month to see how the MakerBot printer works. “It’s used in construction now, and that’s very exciting for everyone,” said Eng.

But it is children who learn how to make their own creations in these eight-person classes. They begin customizing and adapting templates in Thingiverse — a website dedicated to sharing 3D designs. In the second course, the students make their own creations using other templates and shapes in Tinkercad — another website that enables users to create their own designs. The students can then use these free programs to design their own creations at home and print them out at the library.

Registration is required for these classes due to the limited amount of supplies. If any Valley Streamer is interested in learning how to use the printer and cannot attend any of the classes, Eng said that any resident could make an appointment at the front desk to use the printer.